Babbage Building

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Babbage Building
Babbage Building on 16 December 2023
Map
General information
TypeEducation
Coordinates50°22′31″N 4°08′27″W / 50.3754°N 4.1408°W / 50.3754; -4.1408
Completed1979
Renovated2021-2023
Renovation cost£30 million
OwnerUniversity of Plymouth
Renovating team
Architect(s)Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Main contractorBAM

The Babbage Building is a teaching building at the University of Plymouth for the university's School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics and the School of Art, Design and Architecture.[1]

Background[edit]

The Babbage Building, also known as the New Engineering and Design Facility,[2] is a teaching building named after Charles Babbage, a mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a digital programmable computer.[3]

After renovations in 2021–2023, the building contains a number of fabrication and computing laboratories.[4]

History[edit]

The original Babbage Building.
The original Babbage Building.

1979-2019: Original building[edit]

The Babbage Building was originally constructed in 1979 as an engineering facility for the University of Plymouth.[3] Prior to being named the Babbage Building, it was called the General Teaching Block (abbreviated to GTB).[citation needed]

2019-2023: Renovation[edit]

In 2019, a design competition was held for a renovation of the Babbage Building.[2]

Planning permission was granted for the works in December 2020.[5] The main contractor for the renovations is BAM,[6] and the new building was designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.[7]

In 2021, the building was closed for renovations costing £63 million. For the renovations to be able to take place, the university had to temporarily relocate classes and infrastructure to other places across the campus. The university's data center was mostly moved to the cloud as a result of the works.[8]

Babbage building during renovations in 2022.
Babbage Building during renovations in 2023.

The building was completely emptied, internal walls taken down, and the outer walls taken off, with only the concrete structure remaining. The renovated building has larger windows, blue cladding, and a rooftop garden. The original structure was also expanded towards the rear and right side of the building.[9]

The newly renovated building contains 108,000 square feet (10,000 m2) of teaching and learning space,[10] and is focused on using low carbon technologies to reduce the university's carbon footprint.[11]

The building was due to reopen in September 2023,[4] but was delayed and officially opened on Saturday 18 November 2023.[12]

Some time after the works, the university has stated that the nearby Brunel building will be demolished and turned into a park when all of its functions have been moved into the Babbage building.[1]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Babbage Building.
  1. ^ a b Telford, William (6 July 2021). "Work starts to create Plymouth University engineering block". Business Live. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b Lomholt, Isabelle (2 September 2020). "Plymouth Architecture, Devon Buildings + Architects". e-architect. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Building plaques". University of Plymouth. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Babbage Building: where engineering meets design". University of Plymouth. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  5. ^ Telford, William (18 December 2020). "Immense new landmark gets the go ahead in Plymouth". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Plymouth Uni selects BAM for Babbage building". www.theconstructionindex.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  7. ^ "University granted consent for iconic new engineering and design facility - - BAM News". www.bam.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ^ Alley, Alex (7 January 2020). "University of Plymouth seeks help to relocate data center". DCD. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ Telford, William (27 May 2022). "Multi-million roof garden building set to transform Plymouth". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  10. ^ "BAM to build Plymouth Uni engineering block". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Ceremony held at University's new home for engineering and design excellence | Koninklijke BAM Groep / Royal BAM Group". www.bam.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Babbage is key to University's future success". Koninklijke BAM Groep / Royal BAM Group. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
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